The Office of the City of Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams started GunStat to reduce gun violence by targeting violent and repeat offenders in certain high crime neighborhoods. The GunStat program was developed to better coordinate efforts among police and assistant district attorneys who are assigned to regional offices to identify the most violent offenders in the program’s small target areas based on arrests, gang affiliations and probation status.

Police keep close watch on the offenders and stop them for major and minor offenses, and if an arrest is made, the area’s Assistant District Attorney is notified by the police and a request for a higher bail is made, and in some cases, argue to revoke bail based on the individual’s previous criminal record. Since Philadelphia GunStat started nearly 70 percent of the 473 suspects awaiting trial or a hearing on gun charges are still in custody.